Past Shows

The NWSSA annual member’s exhibit at the Kirsten Gallery is just around the corner. This year’s show will be September 12 through October 16. It’s not too early to begin making your plans to show at the Kirsten.

And in other news: the SKY NURSERY at Aurora and 187th in Seattle has just built a huge atrium, half the size of a football field and forty feet high. Yes, that’s big. I stopped in the other day to find out that they are very interested in having outdoor sculpture on display. The grand opening is set for May of next year. I was told that they will be able to take just about any size sculpture and it could probably stay there all of next summer. You still have time to start that life size marble Giraffe you’ve always wanted to carve.

The NWSSA booth at Seattle’s 2002 Flower and Garden Show was a success in many ways. The show is a big city event and if you haven’t attended, it is beyond your wildest imagination. Thousands of people saw our sculpture display and became acquainted with our association. It was an additional treat for people to see Richard Hestekind’s prize-winning sculpture garden on the main floor. New members joined and several people signed up for symposiums. Two sculptures were sold at the show and two commissions were offered. Anthony Kaufman experienced a big thrill selling his large and wonderful outdoor basalt sculpture. “Oh thank goodness, now I can carve for two more months,” he said, eyes twinkling. Many of us experienced renewed energy just talking with others interested in stone sculpture. As Markos Weiss said, “I enjoyed volunteering and think it is a good idea to have carvers of all skill levels personning the booth. I am now motivated to display one of my works next year.”

It takes a lot of help to run the booth. This year many thanks go to the 25 people who participated, most standing at least one six hour shift at the booth. Bill Brayman organized the event and set up the booth. Leon White helped transport materials, set up the booth, and provided several great pedestals for the dozen or so sculptures displayed. Nicky Oberholtzer also spent a lot of time at the booth. She labeled the sculptures on display, put together a group portfolio, provided ongoing booth supervision, and a few house plants for good measure. Nicky, Leon, and Rich provided knowledge and advice on booth setup and operations. Thanks to Sabah Al-Dhaher, Arliss Newcomb, Anthony, and others who helped booth setup and takedown. Special thanks to Lloyd for making sure things happened. Thanks to Pacific Plants of Issaquah for loaning us six nice shrubs.

While participating in the recent symposium at Camp Brotherhood, I completed reading a wonderful book, Living on the Wind - Across the Hemispheres with Migratory Birds.

One of the more impressive stories recounted in the book involves the Blackpoll warbler. This little bird is tiny - less than half an ounce.

One could mail two of them with a first-class stamp. During part of its migration, it passes from the east coast of the United States to the coast of Venezuela or Guyana -a distance of 2,000 miles, with no rest, no food, and no water. Researchers studying this bird have stated that, “If a Blackpoll Warbler were burning gasoline instead of its reserves of body fat, it could boast of getting 720,000 miles to the gallon.” For this little warbler, it is absolutely critical that it be able to feed prior to this journey in order to build up its body fat for this herculean effort.

Upon returning from Camp Brotherhood, I feel that I have replenished my fuel tank with creative energy to sustain me until another migratory journey rolls around. The many forms of this replenishment reflect the richness of the symposium and, while I am certain that the equivalent of 720,000 mpg is beyond my reach, I can call upon the network of “Brotherhood friends” to top off my tank throughout the year.

Contact Us

To get in touch with the Northwest Stone Sculptors Association, you can email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.,or mail to the post office box (weekly pickup):